Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  New to MB - 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By srpastor1 - March 28 - 8:10 am

  Its been a month since I traded my Lexus LS430 sedan for a 2011 GL 450 SUV. I researched the luxury SUV segment for more than 6 months. I ordered it with the P2 option, entertainment center and other luxury options. After 1000 miles, I realize that German engineering is very different from Japanese. The GL is very quiet, roomy and an attention getter. The drivetrain is excellent and smooth. It is awkward getting in and out of the cabin. Sitting high is excellent for urban driving. Overall, I like this vehicle but am still acclimating to MB luxury. It meets my needs for additional seating with a luxury nameplate. As I expected, the gas mileage is consistent with this segment.

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  Terrific Ride, but no excuse for plastic seats - 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By fiestafan - March 26 - 11:33 pm

  The performance, comfort and style of this vehicle are delightful, and my friends are jealous. I love the responsiveness of the accelerator, the way the transmission holds the car back going down a steep hill, and the traction and stability on curves. Best yet, long drives are not a problem with the C-class. Its a joy to be behind the wheel of this thing.

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  Great SUV - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Charles McBride - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Has been a great SUV. Looking forward to the new 2004 design.

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  A car for all reasons - 2003 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By vladtepes - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought it new, it came loaded with every feature but NAV. One year later, it feels as solid, safe and fun tor drive as the first day out of the lot. Except for the BAS/ESP warning (which was a wiring glitch, fixed in 1Hr.) there has been no single item to complain about.There has been, however, plenty to rave about. You cannot do much better than this for 30K. My son lover his first set of wheels! I feel secure about him driving it. Make it RED!

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  Wake up, Mercedes - 2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Paul - March 15 - 6:53 pm

  This is my 7th Mercedes.The previous six were outstanding but this one is terrible. I had 3 Jaguars (97, 00 and 03) after my 6th and I am going back. This car has 95,000 miles and in the last 2 years, radio broke-(chip-$500), air suspension-($800), lower control arms and bushings-($1,000), and right now, the AC, the passenger side window , the parking sensor mechanism, the seat memory, the seat messagers, the CD changer, the seat memories all dont work, and rust is developing at the bottom of all 4 doors and behind the rear license plate even though is is meticulously maintained. I now have 3 friends with the S series who have sworn off them and never coming back.

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  48000 mile critique - 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By DDCDDS - March 14 - 2:20 pm

  This is my second MB, and I leased it new. It was fairly bulletproof for 3yrs, but has had lots of problems in the last year. Most of the problems are associated with electronic systems, the key, one touch sunroof closure, etc. A great car in many ways, but beginning to be an aggravation, so Im glad its leased. Dealer service has been exceptional--always a loaner- and a great track record in dealing with problems beyond their control.

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  A Religious Experience - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Kyle - March 11 - 6:33 pm

  I traded in my 07 Mustang for this because it was an amazing steal. One word describes this car: heavenly. I cant stop staring at it; 10 years down the road it will be just as elegant and refined as it is today. The ride is amazingly smooth, you can hit potholes at 40mph and hear them but not feel them. The sound system is impeccable and the controls easy to use if a bit distant from your hand. The V8 is the most finely tuned Ive ever seen-easy to control yet quick to please. AWD is amazing yet does not sacrifice handling as so many others do. Gas mileage is awful but is to be expected and no worse than any SUV. The controls are in the oddest places and are sometimes hard to fathom.

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  "KLASS E" - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By embeth - March 8 - 8:13 am

  This is our second Mercedes. Our other one is a 2006 CLS55 AMG. I bought this E500 this May with the Sports Package as well as the Apperance Package. I love the Sports package with the dual exhaust, sports suspension, and high performance tires. I live in a wealthy town, and I see Mercedes all the time. I wanted mine to be & look different and it does. I am yet to see another E500 with the Sports Package. From my understanding, not alot were made for the 2006 model.

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  2nd Benz - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By fmp0926 - March 1 - 6:23 pm

  The reviews that say the GLK is built like a tank are spot on. This thing is solid! The GLKs exterior look is polarizing (love it or hate it) but I like the boxy shape since it denotes function over form. There are way too many "SUVs" that are all curvy but at the expense of usable cargo space. I bought the GLK because I wanted something that was extremely safe to drive, was well built, had decent handling, good acceleration and offered a fair amount of utility. I did not buy it because I wanted to get good gas mileage, needed to haul more than 4 adults or lots of cargo. Given those parameters, I am extremely satisfied with the GLK thus far.

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  Nothing but fun - 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By DCM - March 1 - 1:10 pm

  Previous cars: Audis A4/6, Porsche Boxster S. I purchased a "Grand Edition" CLK 350 ,only 400 coupes imported. I wont see one on every corner. Grand comes with a host of sport items; suspension, 18 AMG wheels, Contisports 35/45, aero bodywork. It is set up more towards a sport tourer. I really liked the firm ride. not harsh though. It is much more of a drivers car than the audis and the interiors are very close in design and build quality. I have to say what really sold me were the looks. This is the last year for the CLK and quite frankly I do not like the new C/E classes. The interior is very well appointed. The grand has the chocolate with cream stitching.B MB logo on the brakes!